After high school, Matt Myers didn’t really feel like going away to college, so he stayed in New Albany and went to Indiana University Southeast, across the river from Louisville. He didn’t feel like concentrating on anything, so he majored in general studies with a minor in philosophy. Six years later, when the time came to graduate, he thought a little about working in a coffee shop, but he never got around to finding a job. After one last winery gig, he traded in the acoustic duo he had with Katie Toupin and went electric with drummer Shane Cody, an old friend who’d moved back to town. Cody called up bassist Zak Appleby, and something almost clicked. All they needed was for Toupin to join them on organ, and halfway through a session with too many dogs barking in the background, Houndmouth was born. Recorded over five days in the high heat of the Hoosier summer, From The Hills Below The City (Rough Trade) feels like the second coming of the Band, mixing folk, country and rock into a whole that’s bigger than the sum of its parts, with each member writing songs, switching back and forth between instruments, and taking a turn on lead vocals. Houndmouth will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new feature on the band.
Appleby: Jerry Seinfeld said it best: “What’s the deal with airline food?” On a seven-hour flight, they give us one piece of bread cut in half with a bit of syrup and tried to pass it off as French toast. Don’t get me wrong; I ate it, but the satisfaction of having energy from food that was recently ingested never came to me. When I asked for another helping of the crackers, that I can only assume they bought from the Catholic Church, I was politely told that I can go fuck myself. Upon heeding the flight attendant’s advice I found that the bathroom was too small to engage in such activities.
Video after the jump.
